David Henry Hwang Biography
In David Henry Hwang's plays, East and West often meet—and the results are usually not pretty. No other playwright has had as much critical and commercial success in confronting issues of Asian and Asian-American identity. His most heralded work, M. Butterfly, took a real-life political scandal and filtered it through the lens of Puccini’s opera, Madama Butterfly. The result is a play that questions traditional notions of race, gender, and identity. In Hwang’s other works, F.O.B. (an acronym for the derogatory phrase “fresh off the boat”) and Yellow Face, the playwright continues to confront the question of how Americans identify (and mis-identify) Asians. In addition, he examines and deconstructs how Asians identify themselves. His plays are at once confrontational and sharply humorous, and have helped carve a place for Asian-American theater in the United States.
Facts and Trivia
- Hwang rewrote the book for the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Flower Drum Song, which centers on Asian-American immigrants. Ironically, Hwang’s more multicultural and politically correct version was less commercially successful than the original.
- Hwang serves on the Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, and was appointed by President Clinton.
- Hwang has worked closely with prolific composer Philip Glass. The two have collaborated on numerous music- and dance-based pieces.
- Hwang is the first Asian American to win a Tony Award for Best Play. He received it for his 1988 work M. Butterfly.
- Hwang wrote the books for the Disney musicals Tarzan (based upon the animated film of the same name) and Aida (which featured music by Elton John).
Biography
David Henry Hwang, a prominent figure in American theater, was born on August 11, 1957, in Los Angeles, California. Raised by immigrant parents—Henry Yuan from Shanghai, China, and Dorothy (Huang) Hwang, who was born in China but grew up in the Philippines—he was exposed to a blend of cultures from an early age. Although his works often explore themes of Chinese heritage, Hwang has remarked that his ethnicity was not a central aspect of his identity during his formative years.
Early Education and Writing Beginnings
Hwang pursued higher education at Stanford University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 1979. It was at this institution that he began to delve into his cultural heritage, sparking an interest in the immigrant experience. During his time at Stanford, Hwang wrote his first play, F.O.B. ("Fresh Off the Boat"), which premiered on campus. Initially, his father disapproved of Hwang's desire to become a writer, considering it an unrespectable profession, but he changed his tune after witnessing the performance of F.O.B.. This play later found success off-Broadway in 1980, earning an OBIE Award for Best New Play.
Career Highlights and Thematic Explorations
In 1981, Hwang's career gained momentum with the creation of two significant plays, both imbued with themes of Chinese immigration. The Dance and the Railroad became a Pulitzer Prize finalist, while Family Devotions also captured audiences in New York. Shifting his focus to Japanese culture, Hwang wrote Sound and Beauty in 1983, which consists of two one-act plays: The Sound of a Voice and The House of Sleeping Beauties. By 1986, Hwang further diversified his portfolio with Rich Relations, a play featuring an entirely Caucasian cast, marking a notable departure from his prior thematic focus.
Acclaim and Critical Reception
Despite the lukewarm reception of Rich Relations due to its perceived lack of originality, Hwang's reputation was firmly reestablished with the 1988 production of M. Butterfly. This play, earning a Tony Award and a Pulitzer Prize nomination, drew inspiration from Puccini's 1904 opera Madama Butterfly and a real-life story about a French diplomat and his Chinese lover. Hwang adapted M. Butterfly into a screenplay in 1993, featuring actors Jeremy Irons and John Lone. He also penned screenplays for Golden Gate (1994) and the miniseries The Lost Empire (2001), and contributed as a coauthor to Possession (2001).
Contributions to Opera and Other Collaborations
Hwang extended his artistic reach into the realm of opera, writing librettos for several notable works. Collaborating with composer Philip Glass, he created librettos for 1000 Airplanes on the Roof (1988) and The Voyage (1992). He also partnered with Bright Sheng for The Silver River (1997). Beyond the stage, Hwang co-authored the song "Solo," featured on Prince's album Come.
Advocacy and Personal Life
Beyond his writing, Hwang has been active in advocating for the arts. He served as vice president of the Theatre Communications Group and conducted interviews on arts-related topics for PBS's Asian American. In recognition of his contributions to the arts, President Clinton appointed him to the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. Hwang is married to actress Kathryn Layng, and together they have two children, Noah David and Eva Veanne.
Criticism by David Henry Hwang
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